ROB DRAPER: England's defeat against France was a cruel way to exit the World Cup
Daily MailThere are no good ways to lose a World Cup quarter-final. Harry Kane missed a late penalty as England exited the World Cup at the hands of France Marcus Rashford also missed the target by inches with a free-kick in the very last few seconds So for now, we must dwell on the bitter irony that England are flying home and that Gareth Southgate may have served his time as England manager because Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have broken Wayne Rooney’s England goalscoring record. After all the Kylian Mbappe talk, the fear of French flair and technique, in the end it was a good old-fashioned cross — superbly delivered by Antoine Griezmann — and a near-post header from an old friend of the Premier League, Olivier Giroud, that was to be England’s downfall. Olivier Giroud's second-half header condemned England to a cruel quarter-final loss in Qatar Bukayo Saka earned a penalty and gave Theo Hernandez a torrid time, but ended up losing Kane sent his late penalty flying over the bar as England's semi-final hopes fell by the wayside The Three Lions captain came off second best in his battle from 12 yards with Hugo Lloris It was a goal made in England, the kind you will see at Accrington Stanley on a dank, dark afternoon in Lancashire. Gareth Southgate could now depart England on the back of Kane's devastating penalty miss But his side showed signs of progression, with Jude Bellingham enjoying another fine outing Yet this team seemed to have progressed.